Deep decarbonisation of the energy sector could reduce Tunisia's dependence on energy imports from 50% to 2% between 2022 and 2050, according to the World's Bank's "Country Climate and Development Report for Tunisia" released Wednesday, ahead of COP28. The document points out that energy accounts for 53% of the country's trade deficit and 58% of its greenhouse gas emissions in 2022, highlighting the complex links between energy and the macroeconomic framework. Therefore, "decarbonising the energy sector, by improving energy efficiency and switching to green fuels in the end-use and power generation sectors, offers significant opportunities to help Tunisia address its external imbalance and reduce energy costs, thereby improving affordability for households and competitiveness for businesses, while reducing emissions". "Decarbonising the energy sector, 99% of which is based on fossil fuels, would strengthen Tunisia's energy security and consequently reduce its current account deficit, making it less vulner able to fluctuations in international prices". This approach would also support "Tunisia's ambition to become a regional energy hub for clean energy trade between African countries and Europe". The report recommends promoting the use of renewable energy in all sectors and enforcing compliance with the existing legal framework for energy efficiency/conservation. It also calls for "promoting alternatives to road transport and private cars to reduce congestion, enforcing emission standards, phasing out ageing fleets and introducing incentives and infrastructure for electric vehicles". In the industrial sector, the report stresses the importance of enforcing and expanding energy audits, energy management programmes and energy certification for energy-intensive sectors, accompanied by capacity building and financing mechanisms (in particular the Energy Transition Fund), testing innovative decarbonisation technologies and accelerating the programme for self-generation and combined heat and power. It is also imp ortant to expand the use of solar photovoltaic systems on roofs and solar water heating, as well as replacement and renovation programmes for household appliances, according to the same document. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse